Kurdistan’s Weekly Brief November 29

Turkey

While Turkish government still jails People’s Democratic Party (HDP) lawmakers including HDP Co-leaders, HDP deputy Hishyar Ozsoy warned that the government has replaced many prison guards with special security forces and also transferred heavy weapons to some prisons. Ozsoy said, “government may be planning to execute some repressive, even fatal policies in prisons.” The HDP lawmaker called all relevant “all international bodies and institutions to observe, meticulously research, and act upon the grave situation in Turkish prisons.”

Mardin Metropolitan Municipality Co-mayor Ahmet Turk (AKA veteran Kurdish Politician) has been referred to court to appear before the prosecutor. Turk had been detained on November 21 alongside other Kurdish officials by the Turkish police. Last week Bitlis Co-mayor Huseyin Olan was also taken into custody after police raided the municipality building early Thursday morning.

After the European Parliament (EU) urged governments to freeze EU membership, all parties in the Austrian Parliament unanimously voted to accept the implementation of the arms embargo on Turkey. The six major parties in Austria also called the European Union to impose sanctions against Turkey.

Syria

Raqqa liberation operation “Wrath of Euphrates” continues in its third week. Jihan Sheikh Ahmad, the spokesperson of the ‘Wrath of Euphrates,’ announced the launch of the second phase of the operation which will include the offensive from different frontline until the liberation of the city. Ahmad also announced the recruitment of one thousand men and women into the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) from Raqqa to take part in the second phase after receiving proper training. According to Refugees Affairs Committee of Rojava and Northern Syria administration, three thousand internally displaced people (IDP) from Hazima and Hukumiya region arrived at Ain Issa region.

After intense fights between Syrian regime forces and rebel groups eastern Aleppo, six thousand IDP were received by the People’s Defense Unties (YPG) in Sheikh Maqsoud which is controlled by YPG who are part of the SDF. The YPG opened a humanitarian corridor in Al Hellok and Bustan Al-Pasha to allow the families to enter the Kurdish area after they were trapped in between clashes. Extremist groups affiliated with the Syrian National Coalition (SNC) also continued to bombard Shiekh Maqsoud resulting in the death of six civilians and injury of two more. The Kurdish Red Crescent Sheikh Maqsoud have called on the United Nations and international aid organizations to provide urgent aid for families which have been displaced due to recent clashes in the east part of Aleppo.

Clashes continued between Manbij Military Council (MMC) and Turkish-backed Islamic groups. The clashes mostly took place in Beshemele and Cibildem The Turkish warplanes had bombarded west of Manbij on November 22 resulting in the death of two children. MMC is part of the SDF who are backed and equipped by the U.S. led coalition while the Islamic groups are backed by Turkey in operation called “Euphrates Shield.”

Iraq

After The Kurdistan region President Masoud Barzani called the political parties to reach an agreement in regards of the Presidency and the Parliament. Five major parties welcomed the initiative. The Democratic Party of Kurdistan (KDP) formed a committee to visit all parties to discuss the ongoing political crises and to reach an agreement.

In a press conference, Iraq’s Minister of Migration said that fifty-five thousand IDP had entered the Kurdistan region since the launch of Mosul operation. The minister also said that since October 17, eighty thousand people fled Mosul due to the ongoing liberation operation.

Iran

Iranian regime sentenced a Kurdish filmmaker 223 lashes and one year in prison for his documentary film about Graffiti in Tehran called “Writing on the City.” Keywan Karimi will be in Evin prison.